Rendle-Short2010

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Rendle-Short2010
BibType ARTICLE
Key Rendle-Short2010
Author(s) Johanna Rendle-Short
Title ‘Mate’ as a term of address in ordinary interaction
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Mate, Address term, Conversation Analysis, Sequential environment, Australian English
Publisher
Year 2010
Language English
City
Month
Journal Journal of Pragmatics
Volume 42
Number 5
Pages 1201–1218
URL Link
DOI 10.1016/j.pragma.2009.09.013
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

This paper focuses on the sequential environment of the address term ‘mate’, contrasting the post-positioned ‘mate’ (e.g. ‘hello mate’) with the pre-positioned ‘mate’ (e.g. ‘mate how are ya’). Because ‘mate’ occurs in a wide variety of situations and carries with it a range of interpretations, it is an extremely popular termthat can be used not only when talking to friends, but also between casual acquaintances who may never talk to each other again. However, it can also be negatively interpreted, especially in ironic and antagonistic contexts. This paper will argue that the interpretation of ‘mate’ is closely tied to its sequential placement. When post-positioned, ‘mate’ overwhelmingly occurs in openings and closings of conversations or following assessments, agreements, acknowledgements and appreciations, presenting an attitude of open friendliness towards the other person. This is no more evident than when ‘mate’ plays a mitigating role following requests, advice giving or even disagreements. However when pre-positioned, it changes the sequential organization of the talk (as do pre-positioned address terms in general), giving the turn first status. It will be argued that it is only through understanding its sequential position that we can begin to understand why ‘mate’ is sometimes interpreted as antagonistic or hostile.

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